E3 2007: Microsoft Conference Live Updates

Editor's Note: All the information below is being written from E3 2007. Microsoft's conference is set to begin at 8:30 PM PST, at which point all updates will come directly from the conference floor.

5:40 PM PST: While we're not sure exactly what Microsoft will be announcing, it seems Gears of War PC is somewhat certain. If you haven't been browsing around the interwebs over the last few days, you probably missed the video that surfaced. The clip, titled "Gears of War on PC," originally published and quickly pulled from gamevideos.com but thereafter uploaded to YouTube, had one scene with the PC version of an achievement unlock pop up at one point in addition to Marcus Fenix battling a Brumak. What's a Brumak, you ask? Well, if you've played the Xbox 360 version, you'd know him as that huge monster with rocket launchers, the coolest looking enemy in the game, that you mysteriously don't get to fight after escaping from Marcus' family home.

Chances are good we'll get some new game announcements and hopefully a few updates on Games for Windows Live. Their cross-platform technology has so far been wholly underwhelming on PC, providing far more limited functionality than the Xbox Live Microsoft's console users currently enjoy.

Of course, any information on Halo 3 still gets the most attention from press and public alike. Many may have gotten their fill of multiplayer when the beta test was running a little while back, but details regarding the single-player campaign have been kept under wraps up to now. Aside from that, there's always Halo Wars, rumors of a price drop or new Xbox 360 SKU, and additional content for Gears of War on Xbox 360.

Currently, the IGN crew heading over to the conference is split up. Some are crowded around a bank of laptops frantically updating stories (blasting Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" and laughing) while others are out in Santa Monica, dragging equipment between hotels in accordance with E3's more decentralized (impractical) set up.

For whatever reason, Microsoft decided to hold their conference this year at Santa Monica High School. While we have yet to visit the site, we'd be willing to wager it's a slight step down from Grauman's Chinese Theatre, the venue for their E3 2006 conference. Is there some secret reason for the odd venue? New kids titles for instance? Viva Pinata 2? Is Microsoft just looking for an excuse to hand out watered-down orange drink? Will all the male and female attendees be seated on opposite sides of the room and instructed to eye each other nervously? We'll let you know.